Formulation of a Concrete Based on Grinded Seashells as Partial Substitution for Sand

This paper examines the partial substitution of concrete components by grinded sea mussel shells collected from the coastal region of eastern Algeria. The study proposes the recycling of this waste to reduce the excessive and increasing accumulation of these shells to relieve the marine environment. The problem lies in establishing a perfect integration of the aggregates obtained from the grinded shells of sea mussels in the formulation of various types of concrete. These substitutions significantly affect the rheology of fresh cementitious materials, which is directly related to the development of strength, modulus of elasticity, and the durability of the hardened material. The objective is to partially replace the mineral sand used in the manufacture of ordinary concrete with shell sand from grinded sea mussels, with different substitution percentages of 20%, 25%, 35%, 40%, and 50% of sand volume. The results obtained indicate a marked improvement in the characteristics of fresh concrete with minimum loss in mechanical performance.

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